The Minnesota Vikings have a couple of big needs in the 2026 NFL Draft. Perhaps the biggest one is the position they’ve been yearning for for eternity; cornerback.
Luckily for them, at least theoretically,
Pro Football Focus agrees this is a large area of needed improvement. The agreement came in their latest 2026 NFL Mock Draft by Max Chadwick.
Vikings Speculated to Draft Clemson CB Avieon Terrell
GettyCLEMSON, SOUTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 08: Avieon Terrell #8 of the Clemson Tigers reacts after a play during the second half of a football game against the Florida State Seminoles at Memorial Stadium on November 08, 2025 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
The Vikings haven’t spent a first-round selection on cornerback since 2020 when they drafted the late Jeff Gladney. The last time they drafted a “serviceable” corner in the first round was Trae Waynes in 2015.
Consider PFF’s justification for the mock-selection of Clemson CB Avieon Terrell at 18th overall:
“The Vikings need help in their secondary, particularly at cornerback. That comes here in Terrell, who has posted 80.0-plus PFF grades in each of the last two seasons at Clemson. He’s the younger brother of Falcons corner A.J. Terrell, who was second among all cornerbacks in PFF grade back in the 2021 season.
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Also consider a scouting report from Bleacher Report‘s Daniel Harms:
“Avieon Terrell is a competitor and showcases the best zone-coverage eyes among the nation’s corners.
He also brings NFL bloodlines as the younger brother of former Clemson corner A.J. Terrell.
He’s a true junior and piled up 19 starts across 27 games played for the Tigers, and brings a ton of college football experience for a 20-year-old. He racked up 82 tackles, 4.5 for loss, 19 pass breakups, three interceptions, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and a sack in his first two seasons.”
What Terrell Could Bring to Minnesota
GettyCLEMSON, SOUTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 08: Avieon Terrell #8 of the Clemson Tigers reacts after a play during the second half of a football game against the Florida State Seminoles at Memorial Stadium on November 08, 2025 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
Consider an in-depth scouting report from NFLDRAFTBUZZ:
“Terrell thrives in a defense that lets corners challenge receivers at the line and trusts them to recover if beaten. His fluid hips and explosive closing burst make him deadly in press-man coverage, where he can disrupt timing and force quarterbacks to look elsewhere. What separates him from other man-coverage specialists is his surprising play strength and willingness to stick his nose in the run game – rare traits for a corner with his lean frame that give him legitimate three-down value.
His ideal landing spot would be with a defensive coordinator who emphasizes aggressive man coverage and values corners who can create turnovers. His combination of technical skill, athletic traits, and bloodlines make him one of the safest defensive back prospects in this class despite size limitations. When the ball’s in the air, Terrell plays bigger than his measurements suggest – and that’s what matters on Sundays.
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Avieon Terrell could be exactly what the Vikings are looking for at cornerback.
